Stories from George Washington's Ferry Farm and Historic Kenmore

Photos: Fielding’s Story, A Gentleman’s Sacrifice

This past weekend, visitors to George Washington’s Ferry Farm and Historic Kenmore learned about Fielding Lewis in the dramatic presentation, Fielding’s Story: A Gentleman’s Sacrifice. They were able to step back in time and see colonial-era Fredericksburg through the eyes of Fielding Lewis—member of Virginia’s gentry, wealthy merchant and leading citizen of Fredericksburg, builder of Kenmore, patriot and supporter of the American Revolution, and husband of Betty Washington Lewis.

In this historical drama, which spanned from 1750 to 1781, actors portrayed people and events from Fielding’s life in the settings where those events took place. Guests saw Fielding’s courtship and marriage to Betty Washington, visited his newly built home as the guest of Betty , eavesdropped as Fielding considered wartime plans, and witnessed the sacrifices he made for the Patriot cause.

In certain scenes, dialogue was taken directly from historic documents including a 1750 edition of the Anglican Book of Common Prayer, a letter dated November 14, 1775 from Fielding Lewis to George Washington, and an authentic patriotic appeal in the Virginia Gazette.

Here are images from Fielding’s Story: A Gentleman’s Sacrifice…

The play began with Betty Washington (standing-Juliana Jones) arranging tea for an important visitor.

Betty Washington Lewis (Barbara Cochran) shows visitors her home and talks about the family she and Fielding have built.

Betty looks out the window toward the home of her mother.

Hetty (Ashleé James), an enslaved house servant and washerwoman owned by the Lewises, debates whether to runaway to the British, who promised freedom to slaves and indentured servants that belonged to Patriots.

Charles Dick (Mike Taylor) arrives to discuss the latest war news with Fielding, his business parther and friend.

Fielding (John Hollinger) greets his friend.

Charles and Fielding discuss how to fund the Patriot gun factory they have been made responsible for by the Virginia Convention.

Lawrence (Elijah Beale) questions his father Fielding about whether all the sacrifices he made are worth independence.

With his father deathly ill, Lawrence wonders about the future.

The next theater production presented by The George Washington Foundation will be Twelfth Night at Kenmore in January 2016. As we approach the holidays, watch http://www.kenmore.org/events.html for details!